Stonemason
Cut, carve and fix natural stone for new buildings, memorials and historic restoration, working in a workshop or out on site.
- Salary£24,000 – £40,000
- Hours37 to 42 hours a week, usually between 8am and 6pm
- Working for yourselfSelf-employment is possible
What the job is like
Stonemasons work with sandstone, limestone, slate, marble and granite. Banker masons shape and dress stone in a workshop; fixer masons build it into walls, floors and features on site. Some specialise in memorials, carving or conserving historic buildings.
The main route is the Stonemason Level 2 apprenticeship, which has pathways including heritage and memorial masonry. It suits people who are strong, patient and good with their hands, with an eye for detail and design.
What you'll do
- Saw, carve, dress and polish stone blocks with hand and power tools
- Build walls and lay paving, floors and paths from design plans
- Make and fit stonework such as window surrounds and archways
- Repair damaged stonework on modern and historic buildings and monuments
- Carve or repair architectural features, statues and headstones
- Read drawings and measure and mark out stone accurately
Where you'll work
- Workshop or studio
- Construction sites
- Outdoors
- Working at height
- In a team
- On your own
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become a stonemason
Apprenticeship
Stonemason Level 2 apprenticeship (typically about 24 months), with pathways such as interior and exterior stone fixing, memorial masonry and heritage masonry
College
Courses in construction skills, craft masonry or stonemasonry; entry requirements vary
Direct application
Start as a construction labourer or bricklayer and train with your employer towards a stonemasonry qualification
Qualifications, licences and cards
- A CSCS card (or equivalent) to train and work on construction sites
Where it can lead
- Site supervisor
- Specialising in heritage conservation
- Estimating, construction management or teaching apprentices in further education
- Your own stonemasonry business
Good to know
- The work can be dusty, noisy, at height and physically demanding
- Short heritage-skills courses are available through organisations such as the Historic England Foundation
Courses and training
-
Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
-
Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- National Careers Service: Stonemason nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/stonemason
- Skills England apprenticeship: Stonemason (Level 2) skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0442-v1-2
- Crafts Council: how to become a stone carver craftscouncil.org.uk/learning/craft-careers/how-become-stone-carver